"I... I think I can lead them," says the woman in chainmail to Tylaerys. "Greenest is to the north? If we are to go we should leave quickly." She is prepared to take the prisoners and lead them back to town on her own if that is the plan. When Jirel suggests a different plan, she looks back toward the camp. "We should hurry. They will discover us and the whole camp will be upon us!"
[I need to know the plan for the 4 outside the camp and the prisoners by mid afternoon on 01/02/2023. Otherwise what happens next will happen while you are still discussing a plan.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Jararaka sighs and rubs her face, she says in agreement with Jirel, "I don't want to mess with whatever Finn and the Garbage Men are doing in the camp before the danger actually presents itself, but with this many, we better have a distraction ready. I have magic that can be very loud, I say I split off to make a scene if it looks like they'll catch our tails."
With that, she will follow the group and head back to where the horses were waiting. She will stay a little bit behind this group outside the camp, attempting to cover their trails and keep an eye out for pursuers. Survival (? might be another skill, can just use the same d20 roll): 6
Perception to spot any cultists: 11 + 1 (guidance)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tylaerys nods at Jararaka's offer to stay and then smiles warmly at the lizardfolk. "Be careful Jararaka."She says, briefly laying a friendly hand on the lizardfolk's arm before turning to the others. "Okay, we must hurry now, let's get going all!" She says, starting to lead the group back towards Greenest the way they came, offering her steed to anyone who would need it to keep up, now and then turning to look back to spot any pursuers. As they move she also tries to incite courage and resolve, telling the townsfolk that they are doing good and that they will be safe once they reach Greenest.
Perception to spot threats: 7 Persuasion to encourage group: 25 Another roll if Cheddar and/or Jirel assists with this: 16
With Tylaerys and Cheddar taking the lead, Jirel would fall back near the back of the pack to keep an eye on everyone with Jararaka covering their rear. Should Jararaka have to fall back from the group to deploy any distraction tactics, Jirel would then assume the rear position to watch their tail while also giving Jararaka the option and appearance of pursuing them. The giantess was constantly alert for any surprise threats along the way.
It isn't long, however, before you realize the kobolds entering the area are not interested in the show. They shout and pester the humanoid cultists. Most ignore them, but enough are broken out of their reverie to listen to the little draconic humanoids and they look alarmed by what they are told. A few cultists return with the kobolds toward the lower part of the camp, while another handful take off running toward the command tent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
The woman in chainmail seems nervous until you begin to move away from the camp, then she joins Cheddar and Tylaerys near the front of the line. The other prisoners take little prodding to get a move on. Most look tired and a few show signs of bruising, but none look to have any serious wounds.
When you are about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the raider camp, you spot three lines of torches emerge from the entrance and fan out into the broken hills. It's tough to say from this distance but there are a lot of torches... maybe 40?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Cheddar, you lead them on quickly towards Greenest, I will go to the back with Jirel. I might be able to distract and mislead those coming this way with my magic." Tylaerys says to the catman as they notice the torches emerging from the hidden camp. She then mounts her steed and rides to the back of the group. "Jirel, I think I can lure our pursuers away if they come this way, you go on with the group now and I will catch up soon. I will be careful, I promise." She says with a smile, riding up alongside the blonde giantess. She then focuses on keeping an eye on their pursuers.
Perception to spot details on pursuers, i.e. are they mounted, kobolds or cultists, any leaders, are they coming this way and so on: 15
Without missing a beat or breaking harmony, Finn nudges Jozen and gives him a look to make sure that he sees that a hubbub has begun. Finn gives the slightest of shrugs to indicate that he is unsure of exactly what is going on but that something is afoot... Otherwise Finn follows the leader of the Garbage Men and waits to see how he and his men are going to handle what happens next. It is possible they hav enough clout here that they won't be suspected of being in cahoots with whatever is going on... But Finn has rarely been THAT lucky.
(I thought Tylaerys and Cheddar were on the same horse, unless neither of them are on one an are on foot with prisoners on the horse instead. Might not really matter.)
Jirel focuses on keeping the group together and moving at a healthy pace. She saw no real benefit of always looking behind them, they had to keep moving forward to gain as much distance as possible. And as someone without magic, there wasn’t much room or thought for elaborate plans. To her, at that moment, what she thought would be the most helpful is if they could hide their tracks, or skew them enough so they wouldn’t be so obvious. She hacks free a leafy branch and uses it to brush the ground in attempts to clear, or at least muddy, their tracks.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I think Jararaka is not that far from the group, probably just ~100ft behind)
Trying futilely to cover the tracks, Jararaka almost rams into a tree while looking down. She rights herself and shakes her head in slight frustration. When she notices the torch lights, she narrows her eyes and signals to the back of the group. Frantically gesturing, she points to herself, then to the direction deeper into the woods (as opposed to Greenest, but in a direction where she can still circle out of the woods), then to the face of her shield.
Jararaka begins to fall behind a bit more, till about 250-300ft away from the group. She stops for a moment to pull on one of the cloaks of the cultists, then continues to creep forward. She taps on her shield lightly and rhythmically in an anxious habit, hoping to the gods that the cultists don't actually catch up to them so she doesn't have to stick her neck out like this.
(Jararaka continues to go forward, but now at a sort of angle from the group. If she spots any pursuers coming within 300ft, she will use a thunderwave to attempt to grab their attention so they don't go in the direction of the escapees.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cheddar, please make the following checks for me:
Survival, to find the trail back toward Greenest in the dark - with advantage as I assume Jirel would have a good chance of noticing any error you make and help
Perception, against DC 6
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Jozen seems to have the same concerns as you. He makes a subtle 'wrap it up' gesture to the other Garbage Men. As you are winding down the current song and the others are inching toward the horses, the party comes to a crashing end.
Four cultists charge into the campfire area. "The prisoners! The prisoners are all gone!"
At the same time, the half-blue dragon Langdedrosa Cyanwrath jogs down from the command tent with cultists and kobolds at his heels. "Wraaaaa!" he roars and throws a shoulder into one of the tents nearby, toppling it over and sending a pair of cultists diving for cover. "What are you degenerates celebrating for!? The Greenest raid was a disaster and yet you debase yourselves with wine and song as though you won a great victory. And the prisoners have walked out right under your noses! I want all available hands up and at attention now!"
"Fan out into the hills. Kobolds and men, in teams of 20. Head north, they will be making for Greenest. Find them. Find Mondath! She knows too much!" He growls again, and electricity crackles between his teeth. "So help me, if you don't bring them back, I will personally feed 5 of you to the hatchlings!"
Cultists depart in haste, with some of the better armored ones taking command and starting to organize the rank and file and they pour down toward the entrance to the camp. Then Landedrosa turns his ire toward the Garbage Men. "You... what do you lot have to do with this?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Tylaerys is able to take back her horse. As she joins Jararaka in falling back behind the others, it becomes clear to both of them that some of the cultists are indeed following. It looks like most of the lines of torches are working their way toward Greenest and thus in your general direction, but only one is tracking right along your path. They are still some ways off, and don't seem to have seen you - they must be following the tracks. As they draw closer, it looks like 10 human cultists with torches, and an uncertain number of kobolds, sans torches, traveling with them.
They are not within 300' yet but will be there soon.
[Is Jararaka on a horse as well? You two probably have a few moments to discuss a plan if you like.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Cheddar guides the prisoners further north. You seem to be making good time, but then Jirel has to course-correct you as you had strayed a little from the path. All is well, and you get back to making good time.
As Cheddar takes a look back to make sure all the prisoners were keeping up - he spots the chainmailed woman separating from the group and starting to jog off to the west away from the rest.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
'Now where might she be going?" Cheddar wonders aloud and draws Jirel's attention to the woman. "Should I follow her or do you wish us to keep leading these souls to their home?" he asks Jirel.
"Too many to fight. Do you think you can slow them or make them turn in another direction, maybe straight west towards the sea? Just say if you think I can help you with your deception." Tylaerys says quietly to the lizardfolk with a hurried voice. "They seem to follow our tracks, we could perhaps cover them here. They also seem to be on foot. I can let them catch sight of me and ride west to draw them away from the townsfolk." She suggests.
Jirel, Cheddar, Tylaerys and Jararaka:
"I... I think I can lead them," says the woman in chainmail to Tylaerys. "Greenest is to the north? If we are to go we should leave quickly." She is prepared to take the prisoners and lead them back to town on her own if that is the plan. When Jirel suggests a different plan, she looks back toward the camp. "We should hurry. They will discover us and the whole camp will be upon us!"
[I need to know the plan for the 4 outside the camp and the prisoners by mid afternoon on 01/02/2023. Otherwise what happens next will happen while you are still discussing a plan.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Jararaka sighs and rubs her face, she says in agreement with Jirel, "I don't want to mess with whatever Finn and the Garbage Men are doing in the camp before the danger actually presents itself, but with this many, we better have a distraction ready. I have magic that can be very loud, I say I split off to make a scene if it looks like they'll catch our tails."
With that, she will follow the group and head back to where the horses were waiting. She will stay a little bit behind this group outside the camp, attempting to cover their trails and keep an eye out for pursuers. Survival (? might be another skill, can just use the same d20 roll): 6
Perception to spot any cultists: 11 + 1 (guidance)
Stealth if needed: 10
Tylaerys nods at Jararaka's offer to stay and then smiles warmly at the lizardfolk. "Be careful Jararaka." She says, briefly laying a friendly hand on the lizardfolk's arm before turning to the others. "Okay, we must hurry now, let's get going all!" She says, starting to lead the group back towards Greenest the way they came, offering her steed to anyone who would need it to keep up, now and then turning to look back to spot any pursuers. As they move she also tries to incite courage and resolve, telling the townsfolk that they are doing good and that they will be safe once they reach Greenest.
Perception to spot threats: 7
Persuasion to encourage group: 25 Another roll if Cheddar and/or Jirel assists with this: 16
Cheddar will run point as the group of prisoners move towards Greenest.
With Tylaerys and Cheddar taking the lead, Jirel would fall back near the back of the pack to keep an eye on everyone with Jararaka covering their rear. Should Jararaka have to fall back from the group to deploy any distraction tactics, Jirel would then assume the rear position to watch their tail while also giving Jararaka the option and appearance of pursuing them. The giantess was constantly alert for any surprise threats along the way.
just an unstable unicorn.
Finn:
And the band played on.
It isn't long, however, before you realize the kobolds entering the area are not interested in the show. They shout and pester the humanoid cultists. Most ignore them, but enough are broken out of their reverie to listen to the little draconic humanoids and they look alarmed by what they are told. A few cultists return with the kobolds toward the lower part of the camp, while another handful take off running toward the command tent.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
The woman in chainmail seems nervous until you begin to move away from the camp, then she joins Cheddar and Tylaerys near the front of the line. The other prisoners take little prodding to get a move on. Most look tired and a few show signs of bruising, but none look to have any serious wounds.
When you are about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the raider camp, you spot three lines of torches emerge from the entrance and fan out into the broken hills. It's tough to say from this distance but there are a lot of torches... maybe 40?
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"Cheddar, you lead them on quickly towards Greenest, I will go to the back with Jirel. I might be able to distract and mislead those coming this way with my magic." Tylaerys says to the catman as they notice the torches emerging from the hidden camp. She then mounts her steed and rides to the back of the group. "Jirel, I think I can lure our pursuers away if they come this way, you go on with the group now and I will catch up soon. I will be careful, I promise." She says with a smile, riding up alongside the blonde giantess. She then focuses on keeping an eye on their pursuers.
Perception to spot details on pursuers, i.e. are they mounted, kobolds or cultists, any leaders, are they coming this way and so on: 15
Cheddar nods and moves forward, keeping within eye sight of the escapees.
Finn
Without missing a beat or breaking harmony, Finn nudges Jozen and gives him a look to make sure that he sees that a hubbub has begun. Finn gives the slightest of shrugs to indicate that he is unsure of exactly what is going on but that something is afoot... Otherwise Finn follows the leader of the Garbage Men and waits to see how he and his men are going to handle what happens next. It is possible they hav enough clout here that they won't be suspected of being in cahoots with whatever is going on... But Finn has rarely been THAT lucky.
(I thought Tylaerys and Cheddar were on the same horse, unless neither of them are on one an are on foot with prisoners on the horse instead. Might not really matter.)
Jirel focuses on keeping the group together and moving at a healthy pace. She saw no real benefit of always looking behind them, they had to keep moving forward to gain as much distance as possible. And as someone without magic, there wasn’t much room or thought for elaborate plans. To her, at that moment, what she thought would be the most helpful is if they could hide their tracks, or skew them enough so they wouldn’t be so obvious. She hacks free a leafy branch and uses it to brush the ground in attempts to clear, or at least muddy, their tracks.
just an unstable unicorn.
(I think Jararaka is not that far from the group, probably just ~100ft behind)
Trying futilely to cover the tracks, Jararaka almost rams into a tree while looking down. She rights herself and shakes her head in slight frustration. When she notices the torch lights, she narrows her eyes and signals to the back of the group. Frantically gesturing, she points to herself, then to the direction deeper into the woods (as opposed to Greenest, but in a direction where she can still circle out of the woods), then to the face of her shield.
Jararaka begins to fall behind a bit more, till about 250-300ft away from the group. She stops for a moment to pull on one of the cloaks of the cultists, then continues to creep forward. She taps on her shield lightly and rhythmically in an anxious habit, hoping to the gods that the cultists don't actually catch up to them so she doesn't have to stick her neck out like this.
(Jararaka continues to go forward, but now at a sort of angle from the group. If she spots any pursuers coming within 300ft, she will use a thunderwave to attempt to grab their attention so they don't go in the direction of the escapees.)
Perception: 25 + 1 (guidance
Cheddar, please make the following checks for me:
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Cheddar's rolls
Survival: 4
Purr...ception: 18
Got so caught up didn't roll with advantage.
Survival (w/advantage): 13
Finn:
Jozen seems to have the same concerns as you. He makes a subtle 'wrap it up' gesture to the other Garbage Men. As you are winding down the current song and the others are inching toward the horses, the party comes to a crashing end.
Four cultists charge into the campfire area. "The prisoners! The prisoners are all gone!"
At the same time, the half-blue dragon Langdedrosa Cyanwrath jogs down from the command tent with cultists and kobolds at his heels. "Wraaaaa!" he roars and throws a shoulder into one of the tents nearby, toppling it over and sending a pair of cultists diving for cover. "What are you degenerates celebrating for!? The Greenest raid was a disaster and yet you debase yourselves with wine and song as though you won a great victory. And the prisoners have walked out right under your noses! I want all available hands up and at attention now!"
"Fan out into the hills. Kobolds and men, in teams of 20. Head north, they will be making for Greenest. Find them. Find Mondath! She knows too much!" He growls again, and electricity crackles between his teeth. "So help me, if you don't bring them back, I will personally feed 5 of you to the hatchlings!"
Cultists depart in haste, with some of the better armored ones taking command and starting to organize the rank and file and they pour down toward the entrance to the camp. Then Landedrosa turns his ire toward the Garbage Men. "You... what do you lot have to do with this?"
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Tylaerys and Jararaka:
Tylaerys is able to take back her horse. As she joins Jararaka in falling back behind the others, it becomes clear to both of them that some of the cultists are indeed following. It looks like most of the lines of torches are working their way toward Greenest and thus in your general direction, but only one is tracking right along your path. They are still some ways off, and don't seem to have seen you - they must be following the tracks. As they draw closer, it looks like 10 human cultists with torches, and an uncertain number of kobolds, sans torches, traveling with them.
They are not within 300' yet but will be there soon.
[Is Jararaka on a horse as well? You two probably have a few moments to discuss a plan if you like.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Cheddar and Jirel:
Cheddar guides the prisoners further north. You seem to be making good time, but then Jirel has to course-correct you as you had strayed a little from the path. All is well, and you get back to making good time.
As Cheddar takes a look back to make sure all the prisoners were keeping up - he spots the chainmailed woman separating from the group and starting to jog off to the west away from the rest.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
'Now where might she be going?" Cheddar wonders aloud and draws Jirel's attention to the woman.
"Should I follow her or do you wish us to keep leading these souls to their home?" he asks Jirel.
Jararaka and Tylaerys
"Too many to fight. Do you think you can slow them or make them turn in another direction, maybe straight west towards the sea? Just say if you think I can help you with your deception." Tylaerys says quietly to the lizardfolk with a hurried voice. "They seem to follow our tracks, we could perhaps cover them here. They also seem to be on foot. I can let them catch sight of me and ride west to draw them away from the townsfolk." She suggests.